What We're Listening To: Kathryn

The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists

This – or indie-band The Decemberists' last album The Crane Wife – is not one to set to shuffle on your iPod. Through lush orchestral strings paired with heavy guitar licks and pulsing drums, the literary Decemberists are out to tell a story and their thematic albums do just that from beginning to end. In the group's latest, The Hazards of Love, lead singer Colin Melloy and a cast of other singers take listeners through a folktale-like story complete with heroes and villains. Those not looking for a story with their music will still enjoy the lush tunes on this album. The Crane Wife was actually based on a Japanese folk tale. The band has been compared to Jethro Tull and Belle & Sebastian.